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Meaning & use

local

adjective, noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈləʊkl/
US/ˈloʊkl/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Connected with a particular town or district, especially the one where you live or are.

    Grammar: Comes before the noun: the local library.

    Patterns

    • local to somewhere
    • a local shop

    I bought bread at the local bakery.

    The local council has agreed to repair the road.

    Local farmers sell vegetables at the weekend market.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounmedical

    Affecting only one small part of the body or a limited area.

    Grammar: Used in medicine: local anesthetic.

    Patterns

    • local anesthetic
    • local infection

    The dentist gave me a local anesthetic.

    The infection stayed local and did not spread.

    A local power cut hit three streets.

  3. nouncountable

    A person who lives in a particular place, as opposed to a visitor.

    Grammar: Often plural: the locals.

    Patterns

    • ask a local
    • the locals

    We asked a local for directions to the harbor.

    The locals gather at the cafe every morning.

    Tourists and locals share the beach in summer.

  4. nouncountableBritishinformal

    The nearby pub that someone often goes to.

    Grammar: Usually with the or my: down at the local.

    Patterns

    • go to the local

    Dad spends Friday evenings at his local.

    We met for a quiet drink at the local.

    The village local serves excellent pies.

Word forms

plurallocals

Common combinations

local authority
The local authority runs the library.
local news
The local news covered the festival.
local anesthetic
A local anesthetic numbed his tooth.
local time
We land at six o'clock local time.
local community
The shop supports the local community.
local call
A local call costs nothing.

Synonyms and how they differ

neighborhood
Neighborhood as an adjective is narrower and refers to the immediate area where you live.
regional
Regional covers a larger area than local, such as a whole region.
native
Native stresses being born in a place, not just living there.
resident
Resident is more formal and legal, referring to someone officially living in a place.

Opposites

nationalglobalforeign

Word family

locally adverb
in or near the area
locality noun
a neighborhood or district
localize verb
to limit to a place
locale noun
a place where something happens
localization noun
adapting something for a region

Commonly confused: local or locale?

local vs locale

Locale is a noun for a setting or place of events, whereas local is an adjective for something connected with a nearby area.

Practice

We asked a ___ for the best place to eat in town.

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